Shark Fishing Charters with Mass Bay Guides – Scituate, Massachusetts
Shark Fishing Charters
Trip Length: 10hr full day booking required
Time of year: Some of our sharks are here year round however we typically offer shark trips end of July through September. Some of the best shark catches actually happen during tuna fishing!
Daily Bag limit*: We typically let sharks go but if you choose to keep one, Porbeagle and thresher sharks have to be over 54 inch fork length, one per vessel. We do not keep blue sharks and makos are prohibited. Please call to learn more about the daily bag limits for sharks.
We typically drop a few bottom fish rods while shark fishing as well to combo and bring some fish home. We always tell the crew to hold on tight to the bottom rods because there are many instances a giant shark grabs their bottom fish on the way up to the boat!
What to expect? See below.
Pictures of shark fishing charters below
What to expect on a Shark fishing trip with Mass Bay Guides?
On a 10 hr shark trip we will be leaving the dock early in the morning, typically just before sunrise, and returning around 3pm. We travel an average of 25 miles offshore Scituate, Massachusetts on a shark trip. We typically bring several chum buckets and some fresh dead bait. We may stop on the way out to catch a few live baits.
Once we arrive to the shark grounds we start a chum slick and drift. We deploy live and dead baits and wait for the sharks to come to the boat. We fight the sharks on 20-50 lb stand up tackle. The majority of the sharks are blue sharks, but we get the occasional mako, thresher, and porbeagle shark. These sharks are typically between 80 – 600 lbs.
We generally push to release sharks but there are a few species that you’re allowed to bring one home per trip. We almost always are dropping a few bottom fishing rods while we drift for sharks the way you have a few fish to bring home at the end of the day. Book a shark charter here!
Target Species: Blue Sharks, Makos, and Beyond
The waters off the coast of Massachusetts are home to a diverse population of shark species. While Blue Sharks are our most frequent visitors—known for their stunning color and impressive size—the real thrill comes from the variety. On any given day, our chum slick might attract a lightning-fast Mako, a hard-fighting Porbeagle, or the unmistakable tail of a Thresher shark. These species represent some of the most powerful game fish in the Atlantic, offering a test of strength and technique for even the most seasoned anglers.
Sharks have an incredible sense of smell, and they will follow that trail directly to the back of the boat. It’s a game of anticipation; you’ll watch the floats bobbing in the distance, waiting for that sudden, violent click of the reel that signals a predator has found the hook.
Catch and Release: Protecting the Apex
At Mass Bay Guides, we respect the ocean’s balance. While some species are eligible for harvest according to federal regulations, we heavily encourage catch and release for our shark trips.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary create a unique underwater intersection of water and structure. Every summer, the nutrient-rich currents of the Atlantic collide with the shallow ledges of the bay, bringing in massive schools of mackerel, menhaden, and bluefish. Where there is bait, there are sharks. This biological “conveyor belt” is what makes Massachusetts shark fishing some of the most consistent in the world.
Shark Fishing Gallery
